HERBS 'N SPICES: POT GARDENS

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HERBS 'N SPICES: POT GARDENSSome of you may not have room at all for herbs unless theyare in pots. Never fear, you can have a pot garden! Many ofthe herbs will grow fine in pots when they have plenty of sun

and are watered on a regular basis. Even if you are in anapartment with a patio or balcony you can do this. Chancesare you are in full sun, and the herbs will love the heat!First, lets talk again about the soil for pots. A good potting soil-

if it doesn't have limestone added-then add 1 tsp. per 6 inchpot--2 tsp. for 12 inch etc. It doesn't have to be exact. Don'tuse garden soil--it's too heavy for pots and won't work as well.The smallest pot you should use for herbs should be 6 inches

(across). This size works well for outside shelving or windowsills.The 8, 10 and 12 inch work great. All your pots don't need to bethe same size. Use what you have! The ultimate are the halfwhiskey type barrels. You can get a lot of herbs in one of those!

BUT, it can't be moved easily, so place it before filling with soil.The pots must have good drainage or the roots can rot. Unglazedterra cotta works the best I think for all types of herbs. Plasticpots can work for mints and other herbs that like moisture but

you still have to be so careful to not overwater. Group the plasticaway from the clay, so you can adjust the watering schedule.What herbs grow best in containers? Today we are talking aboutcontainers outside--on a deck, porch, patio etc. These herbs tend

to do better in pots: parsley, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, basil,thyme, chives, lemon verbena, mints, nasturtiums, sage, cilantro,shorter varieties of dill, tarragon, calendula, chervil, coriander, andsummer savory. Wow, that is a lot of culinary herbs! You'll be able

to cook, make vinegars, create blends and still have enough tofreeze! There are more herbs than this that will be able to adapt topots, so don't be afraid to experiment if you have an idea.What is the most important thing to remember when growing herbs

in pots? Watering daily when it doesn't rain and pinching out herbsthat tend to grow tall. Pinch from the middle, harvest from the sideslater. Once you have gotten your watering schedule down (be sureto ask someone to do it for you, if you go out of town) then make

sure you harvest on a regular basis when the herbs are ready. Donot allow them to bloom--especially the basil. Keep them clipped,neat and trim. You can add sphagnum moss, wood chips, or gravel

to the top of your containers to help keep moisture in too. If you arein a dry, hot climate it would be an added benefit for your plants tobe misted on a daily basis.Some plants that can be a nuisance in the herb bed, aren't in a pot.

Mints are a good example. They can be kept under control so muchbetter in pot. Their roots can't spread, and if you harvest often theywon't bloom and reseed either! A large pot of chocolate mint is nodoubt one of my favorite things.

So, how do you decide what to plant? Figure out how much spaceyou can give to your pots. They should get at least 6 hours of sunper day. Gather all of your empty pots together to see what youhave available. Decide if you should buy a few more and go from

there.Think about what you want from your herb garden. Do youwant herbs for soups, stews, meats and vegetables? Do you wantto make vinegars? Or maybe dry extra for winter? Sit down withpaper and pencil and write all of this out. Eliminate the herbs you

really don't think you will use. Here are some ideas-some of whichincludes tomatoes and peppers:Salads: Nasturtiums, tomatoes, basil, chives, oregano, parsleyItalian: oregano, basil, patio type tomato, marjoram, rosemary

Mexican: cilantro, pepper plant, oregano,Fragrance: lavender, rosemary, miniature roses, mintsVinegars: dill, basil, oregano, nasturtium, chives, sageFinally, I have some tips on individual herbs and the size pots they

may need and a few other tidbits.A row of the smaller, 6 inch pots would work well for thyme, oregano,cilantro or marjoram. 8 inch pots work better for chives, parsley, andbasils. The bigger 10-12 inch pots work the best for herbs such as

rosemary, sage, lavender and mints.Lemongrass can be grow in a pot outdoors after the nights areabove 60 degrees F. The container should be at least 12 incheswide and deep. Let it almost dry out between waterings. You'll

have to bring it in if you have hard frosts, but it can stay outsidethe entire summer.As you can see, the possibilities are endless when it comes topot gardens, so get started this week!MORE HERB TIPS:

Reflections and tips on a fragrant garden:http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/fragrant.html

-- Diana Gonzalez Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

-Unknown